Ink transfer ribbon



Nov. 16, 1943.

L. E. LE NTZ INK TRANSFER RIBBON Filed Dec. 26, 1940 l @QQQQggqga oao z. a H mm if m M @Lo A@ o, a 7 w 0 @2 6 Q z a ATTORN EY 2 ga 24 at 1 i i 8 32 832mm Patented Nov. 16 1943 INK TRANSFER nmnoN Lawrence E. Lentz, New York, N. Y., assignor to Underwood Elliott Fisher Company, New York, N. Y., a co poration of Delaware Application December 26, 1940, Serial No.-'371,652

' 2 Claims. ('01. 197-112) 'Thisinvention relates to ink transfer ribbons such as are employed in typewriting machines, adding -machines, bookkeeping machines and other business machines.

. In the use of such machines, the type engage a relatively limited part of the width of the ribbon. In a ribbon which is arranged to provide a single track for the engagement of I the type, the type engage the ribbon along a track occupying the central portion only of the width of the ribbon.

In the usual ribbons now employed in business machines-both bichrome and single color ribbons, the type are arranged to engage the ribbon along two tracks on each side of the central portion of the ribbon, the marginal portions of the ribbon extending some distance beyond these tracks. The ribbon guide control mechanism is .shifted to bring the ribbon into position for the engagement of the type alternatively with these two tracks.

The portions of the ribbon engaged by the type should be relatively thin in order to give a clear distinct "write." The portions of the ribbon, however, not engaged by the type serve as reservoirs for holding ink which flows into the portion or portions engaged by the type as the ink in these'portions is consumed in the typing of the work sheets. p

The marginal portions of the usual transfer ribbon are the weakest portions of the ribbon and are subjected to the greatest strain "and wear during the passage of the ribbon along the guides which conduct the various portions of the ribbon to and from typing position. The life of the ribbon is, therefore, determined by the strength of these marginal portions.

The principal objects of the invention are to improve the constructionof ink transfer ribbons with a view of increasing the ink carrying capacity and resistance to wear of such ribbons and to produce a ribbon construction-which will give the ribbons a relatively large ink carrying capacity I the accompanying drawing illustrating diagrammatically transfer ribbons embodying certain .i'orms of the invention and the following detailed description of the constructions therein shown.

In the'drawing: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating the invention embodied in a ribbon having a single track for the engagement of the type therewith,

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the construction of the ribbon shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a view illustrating diagrammatically a section oi. the ribbon shown in Figs. 1 and 2, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, illustrating the invention embodied, in different form, in a ribbon having a single track for the engagement of the type therewith,

Fig. '5 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating the invention embodied in a ribbon having two tracks for the engagement of the type therewith, located respectively on opposite sides of the center line 'of the ribbon,

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the construction shown in Fig. 5,

Fig; '7 is a view illustrating diagrammatically the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6 in section, taken substantially onth'e line 'l"| of Fig, 6, and

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. '7 illustrating a ribbon having two tracks for the engagement of the type therewith, located on opposite sides of the center line of the ribbon and embodying the Figs. 5, 6 and l.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the ribbon consists of a length of woven fabric having longitudinal threads indicated at 2 and transverse threads indicated at 4, interwoven in a suitable manner to form the fabric. Fig. 2 shows the threads interwoven in the usual simple over and under weave. These threads may consist of silk, cotton or any other material suitable for the absorption and transfer of the usual ink with which such ribbons are impregated. In Fig. 3, the threads are shown in widely separated relative' positions to illustrate more clearly the ribbon construction. In the actual construction these threads will, of course, be located in a much more closelyadjacent relation. 4

In this ribbon, the track for the engagement of the type is indicated by the dot-and-dash lines 6--6 in Fig. 1, this track being located substantially between these lines.

In the ribbon shown in Figs, 1, 2 and 3, the

longitudinal threads 2 of the fabric are graduated in size, the diameters of the threads increasing from the central portion to the margins of the ribbon as clearly shown in each of these figures. The diameters of the threads in the central portion of the ribbon along the type track located between the dot-and-dash lines 66 of Fig. 1 are sufilciently small. to produce a relatively thin fabric along this track which will give a distinct sharp write. Outside of the type track, the diameters of the longitudinal threads are considerably greater, these diameters increasing to the edge of the ribbon. The marginal portions of the ribbon beyond the type track, as above stated, serve as reservoirs from which the ink flows to the portions engaged by the type as the ink is used in these portions of the ribbon. Thus these threads of increased diameter in the marginal portions of the ribbon increase substantially the ink carrying capacity of the ribbon.

-The use of threads of increasing diameters from the central portion to the margin of the ribbon, correspondingly increases the strength of the ribbon from its central to its marginal portion and the marginal portion will thus be given the greatest strength and the greatest resistance to strain and wear. Thus the ribbon not only will have a relatively larg ink carrying capacity, but will be highly resistant to wear and strain particularly along its marginal portions.

Fig. 4 shows, in diagrammatic cross section, a

, ribbon having a construction similar to that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, but differing from the ribbon shown in said figures in the construction of the longitudinal threads. The ribbon shown in Fig. 4 is also a single color ribbon and the type track is the portion located substantially between the dotand-dash lines 6a shown in this figure. In this construction, the longitudinal threads 2:: em-

ployed in the central portion of the ribbon are of substantially uniform diameter and the diameters of the same are relatively small so as to form a relatively thin fabric along the type track which will give a sharp distinct write. The longitudinal threads 2b outside of the type track are of substantially uniform diameters from the type track tothe outer edges of the ribbon and are of considerably greater diameters than the diameters of the threads 2a. Thus, in this construction,

the fabric along the type track will have a relasaid center line and from the marginal portions of the ribbon. In the construction of Fig. 5, the portions respectively between the dot-and-dash lines 8 -8 and between the dot-and-dash lines 9-9 constitute substantially the type tracks or the portions engaged by the type.

The ribbon shown in these figures may be considered as made up .of two longitudinal strips separated by the central line of the ribbon indiabsorb the usual transfer ink and will transfer the same in the manner required under the impact of the type of the machine. Fig. 6 shows the threads interwoven in the simple over and under weave as in Fig. 2.

In the construction shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the longitudinal threads are graduated in size and increase in diameter from the central portion to the marginal portion of each of the longitudinal strips respectively between the line' |0|0 (Fig. 5) and the edges of the ribbon. The longitudinal threads in the central portion of each strip, between the lines 8-8, or between the lines 9-9, which define the type tracks, are made sufflciently small in diameter so that this portion of the ribbon will be relatively thin so as to enable the ribbon to produce a clear distinct write. The diameters of the longitudinal threads outside of each type track toward the margin on one side of the track and toward the central portion of the ribbon on the other, are of greater diameters than those in the'central portion 01' the strip. The longitudinal threads of relatively large diameters on each side of each type track, enable the ribbon to hold a relatively Y large quantity of ink and these threads in the marginal portions of the ribbon render these portions of the ribbon relatively strong and highly resistant to wear. The longitudinal threads of increased diameters between the two type tracks render the central portion of the ribbon correspondingly strong.

Fig. 8 'shows a construction of ribbon embodying the invention, having two type tracks respecrespectively between the lines 8a and between the lines 9a which define the type tracks, are substantially uniform in diameter and the diameters of these threads are relatively small so as to enable relatively thin fabric portions to be produced for the engagement of the type. The longitudinal threads l2b in the portions outside of each type track, from the type tracks toward the margin of the ribbon on one side and toward the central line of the ribbon on' the other, are substantially uniform in diameter and are considerably larger in diameter than the diameters of the threads l2a in the central portion of the two longitudinal strips. Thus, in the ribbon shown in this figure, the fabric in the central portion of each longitudinal strip constituting the type track will be sufiiciently thin to give a sharp vivid "write while the portions on each side of the type track will be given a relatively high degree of strength and resistance to wear and strain by the use of threads of relatively large diameters. These longitudinal threads of relatively large diameters in the portions of the ribbon on each side of each type track which serve as reser' voirs for the ink, also enable the ribbon to hold a relatively large quantity of ink.

The construction shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 and that shown in Fig. 8 may be employed either in single color ribbons or in 'bichrome ribbons. When these constructions are embodied in bichrome ribbons, the longitudinal strip on one side or the center line IO-Ill, Fig. 5, or the line 10a, Fig; 8, is impregnated with ink of one color and the strip on the opposite side of said center line is impregnated with ink 0! a diflerent color.

With the present ribbon construction, the portions or a ribbon having the longitudinal threads of larger diameters will be relatively thicker and will have a greater number of fibers per unit 01' area than the portions having longitudinal threads of the smaller diameters.

Threads of any desired diameters to suit the requirements of the particular ribbons to be pro duced may be employed in ribbons embodying the present invention. The diameters of the longitudinal threads and of the transverse threads of ribbons embodying the invention may vary in ribbons of diflerent character or for different purposes and will usuall vary with the material or materials of which the ribbon is formed.- Thus in a cotton ribbon, the diameters of both the iongitudinal and transverse threads will ordinarily be considerably greater than in a ribbon made or silkthreads.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular'ribbon constructions disclosed in this application but that these constructicns are merely illustrative of the inven- Having explained the nature and object or the invention and having specifically described certain constructions embodying the invention, what is claimed-is:

l. A'transfer ribbon comprising an inked strip of fabric made oi! fibrous material having a relatively thin central portion-forming a type track other forms within the scope of the claims.

' tile fabric impregnated with ink and having a relatively thin central portion engaged by the type to produce a sharp, distinct writing and provided with longitudinal threads of relatively small diameters, said strip having marginal portions outside said type-engaged portion provided with longitudinal threads of relatively larger di- .ameters constructed to give the same greater strength and greater ink containing capacity than said central portion and constituting ink supplying reservoirs ior said central portion.

mwarmcn n. Lam-z.- 

